Further expanding its customer portfolio for Stage Two of the UAE’s national railway network, Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the network, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bertschi, a leading Switzerland-based logistics company specialising in liquid and dry bulk products for the chemical industry.

Etihad Rail’s state-of-the-art network will not only connect key centres of industry and population within the UAE, but will also form a vital part of the GCC-wide rail network, linking to Saudi Arabia in the west and Oman in the east. The MoU, signed by Etihad Rail CEO H.E. Dr. Nasser Al Mansoori and Bertschi Global AG Manager Business Unit Global, Michael Baechler, will enable the leading logistics company to use the rail network for efficient and safe cross-border transport of equipment and products such as hazardous and non-hazardous bulk liquid and dry chemicals. This will comprise trips between the UAE and other GCC countries, with a strong focus on Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the MoU, H.E. Dr. Nasser Al Mansoori, CEO of Etihad Rail, said: “The UAE economy is rapidly developing, and modern rail infrastructure is a key component of this development. The MoU with Bertschi is not only in line with our commitment to provide tailor-made solutions to our customers, but also embodies the UAE leadership’s vision to drive the country’s economic growth and development. Furthermore, the agreement showcases the positive impact Etihad Rail will have on global industry players, offering them growth opportunities not only in the UAE but in the region as a whole.”

Michael Baechler, from Bertschi, also added: “Bertschi has made its mark worldwide in intermodal rail and short sea transport, and our experience has instilled a loyal appreciation for the value of rail transport and the benefits it offers in terms of safety, costs and efficiency. Through our MoU with Etihad Rail, we will be able to grow in alignment with the industries we service in the region, which are also growing, and we will ensure that we are able to provide the most seamless transport experience of our customers’ goods.”

With an established reputation in its field, family-owned Bertschi operates 54 subsidiaries across Europe, Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, China, South-east Asia, and the US. The company is a key player in its field, generating an annual turnover of €510 million, and owns more than 19,000 tank and dry bulk containers, 1,200 trucks and 16 container terminals.

Construction contracts for Stage Two of the Etihad Rail project, which will connect the railway to Mussafah, the Gulf ports of Khalifa and Jebel Ali, and the Saudi and Omani borders, will be awarded by year-end. During this period, Etihad Rail will also launch the Habshan-Ruwais route as part of Stage One, which will mark the very first train journey in the UAE. Meanwhile, preliminary engineering for Stage Three, which will connect the rest of the Northern Emirates, is well underway.

Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network, which will cater to both freight and passengers, will span approximately 1,200 kilometres across the Emirates. It will connect urban and peripheral communities, facilitate trade, open up communication channels and foster economic development across all Emirates in the UAE. The network will also form a vital part of the GCC railway network, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and Oman via Al Ain in the east.

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Background information

Union Railway was established in June 2009 under Federal Law no. 2, with a mandate to manage the development, construction and operation of the UAE’s national freight and passenger railway network.More...

Union Railway was established in June 2009 under Federal Law no. 2, with a mandate to manage the development, construction and operation of the UAE’s national freight and passenger railway network.

The railway network will be built in phases to link the principal centres of population and industry of the UAE, as well as to form a vital part of the planned GCC railway network linking the six countries of the GCC.

Built to international standards, Union Railway’s state of the art network will act as a catalyst for economic growth and sustained social development. Once complete, the railway will redefine logistics and transport in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient, sustainable network that will connect all regions of the UAE, and will eventually connect the UAE to its wider GCC neighbours.

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Hill & Knowlton is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 79 offices in 44 countries, as well as an extensive associate network.